Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Groom's 'scorned' ex-wife confesses to deadly wedding blaze

Kuwaiti police investigating a deadly blaze at a wedding tent that killed 43 women and children say the ex-wife of the groom has confessed to starting it.

The tent was consumed by flames in seconds in the worst civilian disaster in Kuwait's modern history. Fire service officials said the tent had only one exit and did not meet fire safety regulations.

Reports say the woman told police she had wanted to avenge ill-treatment by her husband before their divorce.



Later the Ministry of the Interior announced that one person had been arrested on suspicion of causing Saturday's fire, but no further details were given. Reports said the 23-year-old ex-wife of the groom had told police she used petrol to set fire to the packed and highly inflammable wedding tent.

The victims were all women and children because traditionally wedding celebrations are segregated along gender lines.

The groom's new bride had escaped injury but that her mother and a sister had died.

There's a photo gallery here.

No comments: